Call of DutyZombiesandFinal Fantasyaren’t what most would consider similar games, but both are experiencing a similar ongoing debate within their respective fanbases. At the center of these arguments is a struggle between the ideologies of those who respect traditions versus those who want to create new traditions. It’s the new school against the old school fighting for the future ofFinal FantasyandCall of DutyZombies, and there might not be any black-and-white correct answer to the question.
BothCall of DutyZombies andFinal Fantasyhave undergone a lot of changes in recent years. Zombies began as a simple easter eggbonus mode forCall of Duty: World at Warthat has since expandedinto something bursting with complexity and lore as the mode transformed into essentially its own subdivision within any newCoD, especially those that come from Treyarch.Final Fantasywent from its humble, pixel-art and turn-based JRPG roots that so many try to emulate to massive cinematic pieces with real-time combat that define the modern era of the franchise. It’s an argument of returning to those old days versus continuing to push the limits of what’s possible that splits the fans of both games.
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Returning to Tradition or Pressing Forward For Final Fantasy And CoD Zombies
“I don’t like the new stuff as much, I wish they’d do games like they used to,” or, “The new one is okay, but I prefer the old style more,” is almost certainly a phrase that any fan of these franchises has heard, or perhaps even used themselves, at some point in the past. It’s not a new statement for art in general. People prefer a musician’s older albums or a director’s older movies, as it’s the nature of art consumption as it relates to experience, nostalgia, and the passage of time. There are fansthat wantFalloutto return to its CRPG daysandPokemonto return to its 2D format, as well.
Something that the “return to tradition” crowd may need to keep in mind is that refusing to stick to the same format is how many of these franchises' most iconic moments came around in the first place.Final Fantasy 7never would have happened if Square Enix chose to stick to the more simplified turn-based nature of its older games, andsome of the bestCall of DutyZombies mapslike Der Eisendrache never would have come around if Treyarch stuck exclusively to smaller maps.
There’s No Correct Answer For CoD Zombies or Final Fantasy
Whether a game series should return to the tried-and-tested systems of old or continue to attempt new things is a discussion with no real correct answer. Returning to older concepts can be a great way to appeal to nostalgic players while simultaneously developing and improving a lot of those older designs, likethe Die Maschine map inCall of Duty: Black Ops Cold Warthat brings the original Nacht der Untoten map into the modern day. However, it can also get tiring, as fans have complained that maps like Nacht Der Untoten have reappeared far too often. Alternatively, though modes like Outbreak show potential, some fans want Zombies to keep a survival structure forever - an opinion that is understandable since the mode has had that format for so long.
Square Enix appears to have broad appeal and sales in mind with regards tothe lack of any new turn-basedFinal Fantasy, but the lack of any new game in the franchise like the old ones doesn’t mean there’s exactly a void in the marketplace waiting to be filled. In the modern era, JRPG fans have gotten games likeDragon Quest 11,Persona 5,Shin Megami Tensei 5,Bravely Default 2, and dozens more titles with turn-based combat systems.Final Fantasy’s reputation as one of the biggest franchises in JRPG history stems from innovation and standing out among the crowd, something the series may lose were it to return to old combat systems without some other change to the formula. Hopefully, asCall of DutyZombiesandFinal Fantasycontinue to grow, they find ways to satisfy all types of fans.
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